Kumasi (Ashanti), 23rd April

About 2000 foreign dignitaries and tourists are expected in Kumasi to witness the enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as the new Asantehene and the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool on Monday, April 26.

The ceremony will involve the performance of a number of rites, including the wearing of the "Batakarikesie"(war attire), ridding in a palanquin and firing of muskets by the new King to prove his ability to command and lead the Asante nation.

Nana Otuo Serebour II, Juabenhene and chairman of the 21-member Enstoolment Planning Committee, announced this at a meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) and the Asanteman Council in Kumasi on Thursday.

He said the ceremony will be held at the Kumasi Sports Stadium instead of Dwaberem, Manhyia Palace, due to the large number of people expected.

The programme begins in the afternoon of Sunday, 25th April, when the Asantehene-elect would sit in state at Pramakesieso at the precinct of Manhyia Palace to receive chiefs and dignitaries.

Between 1100 and 1300 hours on Monday, April 26, other rites would be performed at Pampaso, near the Kumasi Fort, which will be witnessed only by the various divisional heads of the KTC and paramount chiefs of Mampong, Adansi, Offinso, Ejisu, Kumawu, Oyoko, Nsuta and Juaben.

Nana Serebour said each of the heads will be accompanied by a retinue of not more than five people and would be clad in black mourning cloth (Kuntunkuni).

According to Nana Serebour, in the evening, the Asantehene-elect, now in possession of all his regalia, with the exception of the Golden stool, and wearing the Batakarikese, will ride in a palanquin from Pampaso to the stadium, where all the paramount chiefs and the dignitaries would be seated.

The Asantehene-elect would not sit in state at the stadium, but would fire a musket three times for the Oyoko clan, the Nifa (right wing) and Benkum (left wing) chiefs.

He would then exchange greetings with the dignitaries before he leaves to rest for the actual enstoolment in the night. Nana Serebour said at midnight of the same day, the Mamponghene, supported by all the paramount chiefs, would hold the Asantehene-elect, lift him up and place him on the Golden Stool three times signifying his formal enstoolment.

After this Gyaase, Manwere, Ankobea and Nkosuo divisions of KTC would then escort the Asantehene to a room called "Mereda"(I am sleeping) in the Manhyia Palace.

The Juabenhene said at 1000 hours on Tuesday, the Asantehene would sit in state for the paramount and divisional chiefs to swear the oath of allegiance to him.

Distinguished citizens of Asanteman would be permitted to pay homage to the Asantehene, amid traditional rumming and dancing.

All would be clad in white cloth to signify the end of the Asantehene's enstoolment and it would be a day of merry making.

Born on May six, 1951, Barima Kwaku Dua Bonsu, the last of the six children of Madam Efua Kobi, now Nana Efua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Asantehemaa, ascends the Golden stool as Otumfuo Osei Tutu II with a clear focus to foster the economic and social development of Asanteman.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu is expected to heal the wounds of the past and build bridges towards greater unity and harmony within the whole country, Nana Serebour added.